Meeting Room

Abington Public Library Meeting Room Regulations

Abington organizations are welcome to use the Meeting Rooms of the Abington Public Library. In order to reserve the date and coordinate the scheduling of furnishings and equipment, organizations must fill out an application form ten business days in advance. This application must be filled out by a person 18 years of age, or older. Designated staff members will do scheduling

Use of the rooms is restricted to non-profit organizations directly serving the civic, educational, or cultural interests of the town.

Due to the number of groups requesting the use of the meeting rooms, meetings will not be allowed on a regular basis. Any organization may use the meeting room up to nine times per year.

The Meeting Rooms may not be used for the following purposes:

• In furtherance of political candidates other than educational forums relating to candidates and elections in general.
• Organizations or individuals for private gain or personal use.
• Programs or activities sponsored by religious organizations which are recognized to belong in a church setting.
• Organizations engaged in the furtherance of, or in opposition to, controversial issues, unless other points of view are also presented.

The Copeland Room has seating for ninety. The Burton L. Wales Room may be used only when the library is open and is restricted to library-related groups and the historical commission.

The use of the Anderson Story Room will be restricted to activities under the supervision and planning of the children's librarian.

There are no cooking facilities. Refreshments will be restricted to beverages and finger foods. A coffee maker will be available and will not leave the library grounds.

The Town of Abington prohibits smoking and the use of alcoholic beverages in its town buildings.

The organization using the facility will be responsible for setting up the room and leaving it as originally found. All food must be removed and the kitchenette cleaned with available cleaning supplies. Use of the room does not imply access to library equipment or supplies. Organizations using the room are responsible for supplying their own overhead projectors, slide, or movie projectors.

Any stains or spills on the carpet will be cleaned and damage to the library's equipment will be restored at the expense of the meeting space user.

All meetings shall be open to the public as space permits.
The library's own programming shall take precedence over any other meeting.

If the Library has to close because of an unforeseen emergency, including inclement weather, meeting room use will be canceled.

Decorations, posters, wallhangings, mobiles, etc. will not be affixed to any part of the building.

Granting permission to a group to meet at the library does not in any way constitute or imply an endorsement of its beliefs, policies, or program by any library official or by the Board of Library Trustees.

There will be a charge to use the Copeland Room when the library is closed. The current rate is $20.00 per hour to cover security and custodial cost. The Copeland Room is the only room available when the library is closed.

The Library Director shall grant requests for meetings.  However, the Board of Library Trustees will be the final arbiter of gray areas not fully defined in this policy.

Updated by the Board of Library Trustees November, 2004.

STUDY ROOM POLICY

ABINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

The study room, or small meeting room, is limited to the use of no more than four persons at one time. Appropriate library behavior is expected from those using this room. Food, beverages and cell phones are not allowed in this room. Lap top computers may be plugged in as long as no audible components are used.

Use of this room is limited to three-hour time segments during the regular hour of library operation. The room may be reserved up to one week in advance. A weekly calendar is kept at the circulation desk for this purpose.

People involved in academic tutoring situations or literacy programs must make their arrangements with the Library Director. These cases will be limited to eight weeks.
People involved in these special situations are asked to call the library and cancel if the scheduled time can not be met.

Any infringement of the above regulations will result in the loss of privileges.

Updated by the board of Library Trustees November, 2004.